Kentucky finishes off series sweep of Hofstra with 9-1 win

Kentucky finished off its second series sweep of the season with a 9-1 win over Hofstra on Sunday. The ‘Cats are now 9-1 to open the season and are one of 11 SEC teams with one or fewer losses.

Five different Wildcat batters brought home a run, but DH Ethan Hindle led the way with four. Hindle’s four RBIs came on a Grand Slam in the fourth inning, which was his first career home run.

Kentucky totaled eight stolen bases in the win, tied for its most in a game in program history (2010 vs. Auburn).

The Kentucky lineup will be taking the day break to recover physically, as seven Wildcat batters were plunked in Sunday’s win. Hofstra pitchers issued 12 free passes on the day (seven HBP, five walks).

Players of the Game:

• LHP Ethan Walker: Walker had a bounce back outing for the ‘Cats on Sunday, as he allowed just four hits and one earned run in four innings of work.
• DH Ethan Hindle: Kentucky’s sophomore DH belted his first career home run, a grand slam, in the fourth inning of Sunday’s win.
• RHP Scott Rouse: Rouse had another great relief outing on Sunday, as he allowed just two hits and no runs in five innings of work.

Ethan Walker makes second start of season

Entering Sunday’s series finale, left-hander Ethan Walker was the lone member of the Kentucky rotation to have not made three starts this season. Walker’s planned season debut was to be in Kentucky’s series finale against Lipscomb to open the season, but the game was canceled and not rescheduled.

The Longwood transfer made his first start in a Wildcat uniform last Sunday against Belmont, and was a tad disappointing. In just 2 2/3 innings, the junior allowed six hits and four earned runs before being pulled. He had a chance to redeem himself against Hofstra and experienced a bounce back outing.

In four innings, Walker allowed just four hits and gave up one earned run on Sunday. He struck out four batters and his season ERA lowered from 13.50 to 6.75 in the win.

Walker was given immediate run support in the first inning, as a Tyler Bell RBI-groundout was able to score Luke Lawrence from third base to give the ‘Cats a 1-0 lead. Kentucky’s freshman shortstop notched his team-leading 11th RBI of the season.

Chippy third inning gifts Wildcats two runs

After Hofstra tied the game up on an RBI-double from Tyler Castrataro in the top of the third, things got chippy between the dugouts in the bottom of the inning.

Shaun Montoya was hit by a pitch to open the frame, but Cole Hage hit into a double play to wipe the bases clear. Following the double play, Hofstra shortstop Michael Brown yelled an expletive at Montoya, which infuriated Nick Mingione and the Wildcat dugout.

Following this double play, yelling ensued between both dugouts. Along with this, Mingione continued barking at umpires about the actions of Hofstra’s Brown. Following the double play however, Tyler Bell walked and two consecutive batters were hit by pitches to load the bases.

Mingione is NOT happy with Hofstra shortstop Michael Brown.

Brown seemingly yelled “GTFO” on a turned double play earlier in the inning. pic.twitter.com/vB7B4FOIHj

— Daniel Hager (@DanielHagerKSR) March 2, 2025

Hofstra right-hander Branden Brown then plunked Dylan Koontz with the bases loaded, his fourth of the inning and third in a row. The play was reviewed for an intentional hit-batter, but the umpires ruled that it was an accident. However, four HBP in an inning does not quite seem like a coincidence.

Following his fourth hit batter of the frame, Brown’s day was over. Left-hander Tanner Sanderoff relieved Brown, but walked Devin Burkes with the bases still loaded to gift Kentucky its second free run of the inning.

Ethan Hindle’s Grand Slam extends Kentucky lead

Kentucky notched its second Grand Slam of the young season in the fourth inning, courtesy of sophomore DH Ethan Hindle.

The ‘Cats loaded the bases in the inning on a Luke Lawrence single and drawn walks from Shaun Montoya and Tyler Bell, setting the scene for Carson Hansen. Hansen belted Kentucky’s first Grand Slam of the season in its 12-0 win over Belmont on Feb. 22.

Hansen however flied out to left field, bringing up Ethan Hindle with two outs in the inning. Hindle, who had yet to hit a home run in 21 career at-bats entering the inning, belted a two-strike Grand Slam to left center field to drive in four Wildcat runs. He drove in four of his 10 career RBIs on just one swing.

GRAND SLAM, ETHAN HIDLE (@EHindle_27)!!! The first HR of his career.

B4 | UK 7, Hofstra 1

📺https://t.co/WFVrSNYB4b pic.twitter.com/NaYQ2eVaey

— Kentucky Baseball (@UKBaseball) March 2, 2025

“It felt amazing,” Hindle said postgame. “I was able to get my swing off on two strikes and I’m thankful that the guys ahead of me were able to get on base and get me the opportunity to do that.”

Scott Rouse cements the sweep

Right-hander Scott Rouse relieved Ethan Walker to open the fifth inning and finished the game out on the mound for Kentucky.

“I just threw strikes,” Rouse said following the win. “[Devin Burkes] set me up right and [Logan Salow] helped me out in the pen.”

Rouse pitched the final five innings, where allowed just two hits and kept the Pride scoreless. He may be a dark horse candidate to potentially become the Sunday starter this season, following in the footsteps of Trey Pooser in 2024. Pooser made six appearances out of the bullpen last season before starting 13 games for the Wildcats.

Rouse returned for his fifth inning of work in the ninth inning, where he enjoyed an eight-run lead thanks to a Kyuss Gargett RBI-single in the bottom of the eighth. The Radford transfer struck out the side, cementing the win.

What’s next for Kentucky?

Kentucky will be back in action on Tuesday when it travels to Richmond for an in-state matchup with Eastern Kentucky. First pitch is scheduled for 6:00 p.m. EST.